Asia Cup 2023: Bangladesh desperate to beat Sri Lanka to stay alive

Sri Lanka`s Matheesha Pathirana (L), Pathum Nissanka (C) and Maheesh Theekshana attend a practice session at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on the eve of their Asia Cup super four cricket match against Bangladesh. Pic/AFP

Survival will be foremost in Bangladesh's mind whereas Sri Lanka will aim for a winning start when they cross swords in the second Super 4 match of the Asia Cup here on Saturday.

A seven-wicket towelling at the hands of Pakistan in the Super 4 opener in Lahore has made a victory mandatory for Bangladesh against the Lankans, assuming that the weather remains dry enough for the match to take place.

A defeat will almost certainly put an end to their Asia Cup campaign. Batting is their main concern, and they will have to address it immediately. They did make 334 for 5 against Afghanistan riding on hundreds by Najmal Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the league phase.

But they came a cropper against more capable bowling units of Sri Lanka and Pakistan, making meagre totals of 164 and 193, respectively. That propensity to go flat against top-class opponents will worry them going into the match against Sri Lanka.

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